As a Milwaukee-based music website, it is our obligation to not only bring Milwaukee to the world, but bring the world to Milwaukee, as well. Five To Watch submissions are handled exclusively through ReverbNation.

Well, it’s come to this. The end of the year, but definitely not the end of great music being presented through our Five To Watch Presented by JBL Professional! Over the course of the year, we’ve had thousands of submissions come our way, and it’s always a little harder to narrow it down to just five acts by the end of the month. Here’s five artists, however, that we think are going to do great things as they wrap up the year and head into 2018. Check out this month’s picks:

The Penthouse (New York City, NY)

If you’re looking for a band to feel infinitely cool while listening to them, you need to hear NYC indie trio The Penthouse. Barely old enough to get into the clubs they’re playing, this group has the sound that both exudes classic New York cool, while putting a modern take indie hip. If you took The Strokes and The Kooks, threw them together, and gave them both a dose of caffeine, you’d have the band’s single, “EveryTime”, which you can hear below:

Tom Shawcroft (Nottingham, England)

With a mix of European club flare and contemporary pop sensibilities, Tom Shawcroft could have the “it” factor to be on a major label at some point in his career. Shawcroft started making music in his teens, producing and evolving his sound over time. With an EP, “Probably Nothing”, and a debut album, “Definitely Something”, released in 2016, production is up for the Nottingham native, and there’s plenty more from him in store. The future looks bright for Shawcroft, and you can hear that on “Down That Road” here:

Freedom Corner Brand (Jackson, MS)

Coming straight out of the south, Freedom Corner Brand brings a unique style of hip hop that keeps the energy cranked all the way up. If you’re a fan of Big K.R.I.T., you need to listen to this duo. With a pair of emcees, iLLDaBlack and Dexter So So Real, as well as an in-house producer and DJ, the group is working hard to produce quality music. Case in point, recent single, “Talkin’ Bout”. Check it out below, and try not to bounce along to the track, we dare you.

Paxton Pennington (Norman, OK)

If I told you about a guy named Paxton from Oklahoma, and told you that he has the potential to become a successful musician, you might not necessarily believe me. However, the Norman, Oklahoma native could be capable of just that, thanks to a solid combination of natural talent and songwriting ability, and at only 21 years old, there’s plenty of time for Pennington to only improve. The singer / songwriter released his solo first EP at age 18, and at 21, already has a follow up project out. With a southern and classic rock influence, Paxton improves on a tried-and-true formula for catchy music, with his own talent and strong voice being the X factor to his sound. Check out “Where I’m Going” below to hear for yourself:

Mayssa Karaa (Los Angeles, CA)

You’ve possibly heard Mayssa Karaa already, and you don’t even know it. The Lebanese singer, who now resides in Los Angeles, was the voice of the Arabic version of  Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbits” in “American Hustle”. As a solo act, she manages to mix traditional Arabic influence with contemporary pop, and powerful singles like “Simple Cure”, which you can hear below. Karaa was previously nominated for a Grammy as part of the “American Hustle” soundtrack, but her solo material is relatively new to the world. When you hear her, though, you’ll realize that the level of prestige she’s acclaimed for her film work may not be out of the realm of possibility for her career in the future. Check out “Simple Cure” below:

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